System and method for changing the view of a trading screen

ABSTRACT

A trading screen displays market information, such as working orders, buy and sell orders, and other items of interest, in association with values on a value axis. Each item of interest is therefore displayed in relation to the value axis to provide a trader with an intuitive display of the market. In one embodiment, a user can select a location associated with a particular value on the trading screen and upon an selection, for example, by a click of the mouse button, the value axis is repositioned so that the selected value is moved to a predefined location. During which, market information is moved to new locations that are associated with their respective values on the value axis.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to electronic trading and moreparticulary, the present invention is directed to the axial display ofmarket information.

BACKGROUND

Typically, an exchange is a central marketplace with established rulesand regulations where buyers and sellers meet to trade. Some exchanges,referred to as open outcry exchanges, operate using a trading floorwhere buyers and sellers physically meet on the floor to trade. Otherexchanges, referred to as electronic exchanges, operate by an electronicor telecommunications network instead of a trading floor to facilitatetrading in an efficient, versatile, and functionally rich way.

An electronic exchange generally sends messages to traders over acommunication link. The data, in its raw form, sometimes includes thingslike an opening price, the price of the last trade, the quantity of thelast trade, quantity available at the best sell price, quantityavailable at the best buy price, quantity available at additional buyand sell prices, and the closing price. Of course, an electronicexchange might include more or fewer items, often depending on the typeof tradeable object or the type of exchange. Typically, the messagesvary in size depending on the content carried by them, but at thereceiving end, software is programmed to understand the messages and actout certain operations.

One particular, yet important, operation is preparing the informationfor display to the trader. The trading screen may be the only directconnection a trader has with the internal workings of an exchange. Untilrecently, however, market data was simply displayed on a trading screenin a manner similar to how it was received from the exchange withoutmuch customization or formatting. Because of the simplicity, the screenscould be updated very quickly for a large number of tradeable objects,but at the expense of a non-intuitive design.

Now, developers are beginning to create sophisticated trading screensthat provide a better adaptation to the screens intended use. Forinstance, according to one particular aspect, more attention has beengiven to analyzing what makes an effective trading screen, therebyresulting in the design of more intuitive displays and quickier orderentry systems. Depending on the actual formatting and layout, however,some trading screens are more successful than others in conveying marketinformation to the traders.

To develop an effective and intuitive screen, the developer should havean understanding and an appreciation for those who trade. More timesthan not, spotting an opportunity in a market and capitalizing on itbefore the competition can separate those traders who are successfulfrom those traders who are not. An important component in capitalizingon an opportunity involves the efficient assimilation and processing ofmarket information by the trader, in addition to reacting more quicklythan other competing market participants.

In the following detailed description, novel features of a tradingscreen are described. These features provide advantages, as describedbelow, to a trader in an electronic trading environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the preferred embodiments may be better understood withreference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings arenot necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed uponillustrating example embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates an overview of an example system configuration, inaccordance with the preferred embodiments, used to relay marketinformation to a variety of trading terminals;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of an example process forrepositioning an axis in accordance with the preferred embodiments; and

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate views of an example trading screen that are used todescribe aspects of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiments build on the price axis and recenteringconcepts described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/590,692,entitled “Click Based Trading With Intuitive Grid Display of MarketDepth,” filed on Jun. 9, 2000, U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/971,087, entitled “Click Based Trading With Intuitive Grid Display OfMarket Depth And Price Consolidation,” filed on Oct. 5, 2001, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/125,894, entitled “Trading Tools forElectronic Trading,” filed on Apr. 19, 2002, U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/376,417, entitled “A System and Method for Trading andDisplaying Market Information in an Electronic Trading Environment,”filed on Feb. 28, 2003, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/609,965,entitled “Repositiong of Market Information on Trading Screens,” filedon Jun. 30, 2003, the contents of each application above areincorporated by reference herein.

I. OVERVIEW

The preferred embodiments include methods, systems, and computer programproducts that may be put to advantageous use in an electronic tradingenvironment. In particular, the preferred embodiments provide a featurethat allows a user to select an area of interest on a trading screen andupon an indication from the user that a desired area of interest isselected, for example, by a click of the mouse button, contents of thedisplay are moved to reposition the desired area of interest on thescreen. The system and method work particularly well with tradingscreens that display market data, such as working orders, bid and askquantities, and other indicators relative to a scale or axis.

A trading display can display only a certain amount of information,mostly because of the limitations of the actual screen or monitor size.In a trading display that uses an axis such that market information isdisplayed relative to the axis, various market indicators may ascend ordescend the axis. While this type of trading display has many advantagesover traditional trading screens (those that do not use an axis like thescreens described herein), various pieces of market information mightmove relative to the axis and end up near the top or bottom of thedisplay, or even go out of view. Using a conventional tool, such as thescroll bar, a trader can sroll up or down along the axis to view aparticular portion of the axis, however, this method can cost a tradertoo much time or effort.

In contrast to conventional methods of view control like the scroll bar,the preferred embodiments allow a trader to quickly select an area ofinterest, such as a price level on an axis, and have that area ofinterest moved to a position approximately centered on the display (orto any other predefined location). So, for instance, if a trader isinterested in a particular price, he or she can select the price througha single action of an input device, and the software preferably movesthe axis (and the associated market information) such that the price islocated approximately in the center of the display. Thus, providing amore desirable view of the axis.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the preferredembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the following drawings and description. It is intendedthat all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages bewithin the scope of the present invention, and be protected by theaccompanying claims.

II. EXAMPLE TRADING SYSTEM

The system and method of the preferred embodiments are appropriate foruse in any electronic trading environment. The example electronictrading system, comprising various elements, is described with theunderstanding that there are numerous equivalent elements and systems,all of which will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an example electronic tradingsystem 100. The electronic trading system 100 includes one or moreelectronic exchanges 102, 104, 106 and one or more client devices 108,110, 112. In some instances, each of electronic exchanges 102, 104, 106might use a different set of message specifications. Therefore,intermediate devices such as gateways 114, 116, 118, routers (notshown), and other such types of network devices may be used so thatclient devices 108, 110, 112 can recognize messages from and transmitmessages to more than one electronic exchange, each of which might use adifferent message specification.

As indicated above, the preferred embodiments are not limited to anyparticular trading system configuration. For instance, networks 122,124, 126 could represent the same network, network 120 could representthe same network as networks 122, 124, 126, or client devices 108, 110,112 could connect directly to gateways 114, 116, 118. It is furtherunderstood that the preferred embodiments may be implemented withsystems that have only one electronic exchange.

A. Electronic Exchange

In one embodiment, electronic exchanges 102, 104, 106 representelectronic trading platforms that preferably support electronictransactions of various kinds of tradeable objects. Examples of moresophisticated electronic trading platforms include the LondonInternational Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE), theChicago Board of Trade (CBOT), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME),the Exchange Electronic Trading (“Xetra,” a German stock exchange), andthe European Exchange (“Eurex”).

In another embodiment, electronic exchanges 102, 104, 106 might alsorefer to other facilities, which include more basic systems thatautomatically match incoming orders. According to this embodiment, forinstance, an electronic exchange 102, 104, 106 might simply refer to anonline trading place where sports fans go to buy or sell seats for anevent.

Each of the electronic exchanges 102, 104, 106 may host one or morecomputer-based electronic markets. Traders may connect to the one ormore electronic markets to trade tradeable objects. As used herein, theterm “tradeable objects,” refers simply to anything that can be tradedwith a quantity and/or price. It includes, but is not limited to, alltypes of tradeable objects such events, goods and financial products,which can include, for example, stocks, options, bonds, futures,currency, and warrants, as well as funds, derivatives and collections ofthe foregoing, and all types of commodities, such as grains, energy, andmetals. The tradeable object may be “real,” such as products that arelisted by an exchange for trading, or “synthetic,” such as a combinationof real products that is created by the user. A tradeable object couldactually be a combination of other tradeable object, such as a class oftradeable objects.

An electronic market can implement any of the numerous types of orderexecution algorithms; sometimes the type of algorithm depends on thetradeable object being traded. By way of illustration only, some exampleorder execution algorithms include price/time priority (also referred toas first-in-first-out or “FIFO”) and pro rata-style algorithms. The FIFOalgorithm, for instance, attempts to give priority to the first personto place an order. The pro rata algorithm, for instance, splits all (ormost) orders for the same price at a particular point in time. Thesystem and method of the present invention are not limited to anyparticular type of order execution algorithm.

It is further understood that an electronic market might include othersoftware and/or hardware components to perform other tasks beyondmatching orders or part of orders. These software and/or hardwarecomponents may be local or remote to the physical location of anelectronic exchange. In other words, the components can be operated atthe electronic exchange or at locations outside of the electronicexchange such as points of access. Points of access may include gatewaysor other fast computing devices that are nearby the electronic exchangeand have access to other points of access near other electronicexchanges.

B. Gateway

In one embodiment, gateways 114, 116, 118 function as portals to aparticular electronic exchange. Gateways 114, 116, 118 may include anycomputing device such as a mainframe, super minicomputer, minicomputer,workstation, or personal computer that connect network 120 to networks122, 124, 126 so that market information may be successfully passedbetween client devices 108, 110, 112 and exchanges 102, 104, 106.

According to one aspect, gateways 114, 116, 118 preferably receivemarket data from exchanges 102, 104, 106 and convert it to a formcompatible with the protocols used by client devices 108, 110, 112 usingconversion techniques known in the art. Also, as known by those skilledin the art, gateways 114, 116, 118 may have one or more servers tosupport the data feeds, such as a price server for processing priceinformation, an order server for processing order information, and afill server for processing fill information. A trader at one of clientdevices 108, 110, 112 can preferably subscribe to price information,order information, and fill information for a particular electronicmarket hosted at exchanges 102, 104, 106. According to another aspect,gateways 114, 116, 118 preferably receive transaction information, suchas orders, order changes, queries, etc. from client devices 108, 110,112 and forward that information to corresponding exchanges 102, 104,106.

In another embodiment, client devices 108, 110, 112 might connect toelectronic exchanges 102, 104, 106 without the need for protocoltranslation (this embodiment is not shown in FIG. 1). For instance, aclient device might have computer software that recognizes a particularexchange's protocol, and therefore, may have a direct connection to theelectronic exchange.

It is further understood that gateways or similar types ofcomputer-based devices may be used as points of access. Accordingly,client devices 108, 110, 112 may access an electronic exchange through agateway, especially if the gateway(s) is used as a point of access in anetwork and/or at an electronic exchange.

C. Client Device

In one embodiment, client devices 108, 110, 112 function as an interfaceto trade at one or more electronic exchanges 102, 104, 106. Examples ofclient devices include a workstation, personal computer, laptopcomputer, hand-held computer, or any other computing device, large orsmall, that includes at least a display, processor and memory. Theprocessor and memory, which are both well-known computer components, arenot shown in the figure for sake of clarity.

It is understood that a display includes any visual output device of aclient device. For sake of illustration to the reader only, examplesinclude a CRT-based display, LCD-based display, a gas plasma-baseddisplay, or any other type of display device. For instance, the displaydevice might be physically set on a desk top for a user to view,projected on a wall by a projector, or head mounted in special goggles.

It is further understood that a processor includes any device that,among other things, interprets and executes instructions. In otherwords, the processor functions as the “brains” of the client device.Processor may also encompass any components that make up the clientdevice's main console to perform the functions described herein.

It is further understood that memory includes a device where informationcan be stored (temporarily or otherwise) on any computer readable mediumand retrieved. The term computer readable medium, as used herein, refersto any medium that participates in providing instructions to processorfor execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but notlimited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks,such as storage device. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such asmain memory or RAM (random access memory). Common forms ofcomputer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM,any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physicalmedium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM,and any other memory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which acomputer can read.

In one embodiment, depending on what tradeable objects are being traded,each of client devices 108, 110, 112 receive market information from oneor more electronic markets hosted at any of electronic exchanges 102,104, 106. Accordingly, market information is displayed to the trader(s)in a trading screen, in accordance with the preferred embodiments, on avisual output device or display device. A trader may also receive newsto aid in analyzing information received from the exchange.

Upon viewing the market information or a portion thereof, a trader maywish to send orders to an exchange, cancel orders in a market, changeorders in a market, query an exchange, and so on. To do so, the tradermay input various commands or signals into the client device 104 throughthe trading screen, for example, by using one or more conventional meansfor inputting information such as typing into a keyboard, inputtingcommands through a mouse, or inputting commands or signals through someother input device.

Upon receiving one or more commands or signals, client devices 108, 110,112 preferably generate transaction information. In addition to or inplace of manual entry, a trader might use automated trading softwarethat automatically or semi-automatically generates transactioninformation. Of course, there are many different types of messagesand/or order types that can be submitted to an electronic exchange, allof which may be considered various types of transaction information.Once generated, for instance, transaction information is sent fromclient device 108 to host exchange 102 over network(s) 120 and 122.

II. SYSTEM FUNCTION AND OPERATION

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, variousaspects of the preferred embodiments may be operated in an entirelysoftware embodiment, in an entirely hardware embodiment, or in acombination thereof. In the interest of clarity, the preferredembodiments are described in a software embodiment based on a C or C++language, or any other suitable programming language, which is executedon a computer device. As such, the preferred embodiments take the formof a computer program product that is stored on a computer readablemedium and is executed by a suitable instruction execution system orprocessor in the computer device. Examples of computer readable mediumwere provided above.

It is understood that the description contained herein is considered asillustrative only of the various aspects of the preferred embodiments.Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the presentinvention to the construction and operation shown and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram for illustrating operation and function of apossible implementation of the preferred embodiments. In this regard,each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, whichincludes one or more executable instructions for implementing specificlogical functions or steps in the process. Alternate implementations areincluded within the scope of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention in which functions may be executed out of order from thatshown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverseorder, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understoodby those reasonable skilled in the art of the present invention.

Region 200 represents a section of a trading display at a particularpoint in time. Region 200 includes locations on a value axis fordisplaying indicators representing price or some derivative of price. Asshown in FIG. 2, for purposes of illustration, one location has a valuedesignated as “O,” another value designated at “N,” at “M,” at “L,” at“K,” at “J,” and at “I.” The values “O” through “I” might representprices, for instance. Market information can also be displayed inassociation with each value on the value axis. Market information mightinclude working orders, bid and offer quantities, last traded quantityindicators, quantity by volume indicators, and so on. As shown in FIG.2, the value designated as “N” has an indicator, designated as “N′”associated with it. “N′” might represent a working order, bid quantity,offer quanitiy, or any other indicator of market information.

It is understood that various aspects of the trading screen have beenleft out in FIG. 2 in the interest of clarity. It is further understoodthat actual prices and/or market information (real or syntheticallycreated information) will preferably poplulate the various locations. Anexample with actual market information is provided below with respect toFIG. 3.

Now, assume that the value “N” and/or the market information around thevalue “N” is of particular interest to the trader. According to apreferred embodiment, to quickly center (or approximately center) on “N”and the information around “N,” the location associated with “N” may beselected by a single-action of a user input device. As used herein, asingle-action preferably refers to a single click of a mouse as a meansfor user input and interaction with the terminal display. While thisdescribes a preferred mode of interaction, the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the use of a mouse as the input device or tothe click of a mouse button as the user's single-action. Rather, anyaction by a user within a short period of time, whether comprising oneor more clicks of a mouse button or other input device, is considered asingle-action of the user for the purposes of the present invention.

According to another instance of single-action, arrow keys on a computerkeyboard may be used to highlight the particular value of interest, andthen press enter or some equivalent key to select the location. In yetanother instance, if a touchscreen is utilized, then by simply touchingthe location associated with the desired value can select the location.

Accordingly, repositioning component 204 receives the indication commandand moves the value axis so that the value “N” is in the center (orapproximately in the center) of the display, shown by region 202.Preferably, market information is also moved in unison with the valueson the value axis. Therefore, the indicator “N′” is moved to a newlocation so that it can be properly associated with the value “N.” Now,the trader can immediately focus on the value “N” and the informationaround “N.” For instance, note that the value “A” has also moved to anew location on the screen. In other words, all of the values associatedwith the value axis, and their corresponding indicators, are movedaccordingly. As a result, some values disappeared (e.g., represented by“J” and “K”) while additional values are now displayed (e.g.,represented by “Q” and “P”) on the value axis to provide the trader witha different view associated with the value axis. Note that the value “Q”has an indicator “Q′” associated with it, which appears on the displayonly after the axis is repositioned.

It is understood that repositioning component 204 may be programmed toreposition the selected value to a location other than the center of thedisplay. For instance, a trading display might have an even number oflocations, therefore, the selected value might be moved to a near centerposition (e.g., one location above or below a center line). Note thatthe example trading display has an odd number of locations, and morespecifically, shows seven locations. It is further understood thatrepositioning component 204 may be programmed to move the selectedlocation only a certain number of units along the value axis. Forinstance, when a location associated with a value is selected, the valuemight be moved a programmed number of locations towards the center ofthe display. Preferably, the user can configure the repositioningcomponent 204 to specify what location a selected value should be movedto in response to a repositioning command.

Accordingly, the user can preferably set parameters that are used indetermining the precise movement through a graphical user interface(“GUI”). A GUI is a visual environment that preferably representsoptions with graphical images, such as icons, menus, and dialog boxes ona screen. The user may select and activate these options by pointing andclicking with a mouse, selecting them with a keyboard, or by settingthem with some other input device. It is also possible to set suchparameters through something other than a graphical user interface, suchas through command-line entry or have them hard-coded into the softwareapplication.

As used herein, when the value axis is “moved,” the software in apreferred embodiment is actually updating the screen by moving thevalues and market information to new locations on the screen so as toappear to the viewer that the axis has been “moved.” One skilled in theart may fashion their software to provide the preferred movement.

III. EXAMPLES

For a more detailed understanding of a trading screen, a person ofordinary skill would know to refer to the above incorporatedapplications, and in particular, incorporated U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/590,692, entitled “Click Based Trading With Intuitive GridDisplay of Market Depth.”

This incorporated application describes a static price axis or scale,such that the values on the price axis are not normally moved todifferent locations unless a recentering command is received. As such,market indicators, like the inside market, could move relative to theaxis to provide the user with an intuitive view of the market.Recentering was also taught in the incorporated application by allowinga trader to select a designated area on the screen (or send a commandvia an input device) causing the inside market to be centered in thedisplay. The preferred embodiments, disclosed herein, build on therecentering concepts by allowing a trader to select a particular area ofinterest on an axis, thereby causing that area to be centered (or nearcentered) or moved to another particular location on the axis in thedisplay. Thus, a trader can view a particular portion of the axiswithout having to scroll up or down along the axis to view the item ofinterest. If so desired, both types of recentering techniques may beimplemented in the preferred embodiments.

In FIG. 3, values are placed next to each other to form a series ofvalues along axis 302. As shown, the series of values have a minimumvalue 304 and a maximum value 306, although this might not alwayshappen. The arrangment of values can be in a column format, such asshown in FIG. 3, a row format, or any other desired format. Thearrangement of values may also be aligned in a straight manner, such asshown in FIG. 3, or curved, whichever is more desirable.

Irrespective of the actual axis format, market data is preferably mappedto corresponding values along the axis, such that working orders, bidquantities, ask quantities, and any other indicator can be easily viewedin association with their proper values. For instance, from the screenshown in FIG. 3 it can be easily seen that the current best bid price is“230” with an available quantity of “15.” Whereas the current best offerprice is “232” with an available quantity of “10.” The next best bidprice currently in the market is “229” with an available quantity of“25,” and so on. Other indicators may also be shown in relation to theseries of values on axis 302, such as the last traded quantity andworking orders. From the screen shown in FIG. 3 it can be seen that thecurrent last traded quantity is “5” at a price of “230,” and a currentworking order is to buy “5” at a price of “228.” As market data isupdated, indicators 304 may move along the statically dislayed series ofvalues on axis 302. FIG. 4 shows an example when indicators 304 havemoved along the series of values on axis 302.

Referring back to FIG. 3, values are displayed on value axis 302. Thevalues might represent price in units of ticks, where a tick is minimumchange in a price value that is set by the exchange for each tradeableobject, or in some other unit of measurement. Values might insteadrepresent net change, yield, volatility, or any other indicator whichmay be displayed along an axis. Market information, which is representedby market indicators 304, is displayed in association with the values onvalue axis 302. As indicated above, market information might includethings like: TABLE 1 Types of Market Information Indicators Examplesshown in FIG. 3 Working orders An order to buy 5, “B 5” Best bidquantity “15” at a value of “230” Best offer quantity “10” at a value of“232” Second best bid quantity “25” at a value of “229” Second bestoffer quantity “25” at a value of “233” Last traded quantity “5” tradedat a value of “230”

FIG. 4 shows the example display of FIG. 3, only at some time in thefuture. Note that the values statically displayed on the value axis 302have not moved, but the various market indicators associated withdifferent values have moved. In other words, the market has changed suchthat various indicators are associated with different values on thevalue axis 302. Notice some indicators might not always move, such asthe working order, because it remains associated with the value “228,”which has not moved, until the trader moves or deletes the order. Table2 below provides a summary of some of the example changes found betweenthe state of the market in FIG. 3 and the state of the market in FIG. 4:TABLE 2 Types of Market Information Indicators Changes shown in FIG. 4Working orders Stayed at the same location Best bid quantity “15”; movedfrom “230” to “233” Best offer quantity “35”; moved from “232” to “235”Second best bid quantity “25”; moved from “229” to “232” Second bestoffer quantity “15”; moved from “233” to “236” Last traded quantity “10”traded at a value of “235”

Now, according to this example, assume that a user is interested inviewing market information around the value “234.” Accordingly, the usercan quickly and simply move the cursor over the location associated withvalue “234,” and select the location (e.g., by pressing a mouse button,etc.).

Automatically, repositioning component 204 receives the command andrepositions the value axis 302 so the selected value is moved to apredetermined location, which in this example is the center (or nearcenter) of the screen shown in FIG. 5. The movement may be quick enoughso as the user could not view the move, but only the end result, oralternatively, the movement may be set to a slower rate so that thetrader can actually see the values moving. In addition, marketinformation represented by market indicators 304 are moved to locationsthat correspond to their previous values. For instance, the workingorder is moved to a new location associated with “228,” best bidquantity is moved to a new location associated with “233,” best offerquantity is moved to a new location associated with “235,” and so on. Byrepositioning the value axis and market information, a trader canquickly and effectively view market information that may be ofparticular interest or out of view.

It is understood that the selected location may be moved to anydesignated location. In the above example, the selected value, alongwith any market indicators, were moved to the center (or near center).However, as indicated above, a trader may select a different location orsimply restrict the movement by a certain number of units, for instance,such as limiting the movement to “5” locations. Also, as indicatedabove, the various selections may be input through a graphical userinterface (“GUI”), which is a visual environment that preferablyrepresents options with graphical images, such as icons, menus, anddialog boxes on a screen.

It is further understood that the market could change during the actualrepositioning. If the market changes, the repositioning component cansimply map the new market information, and more specifically, the marketindicators to the proper values on the value axis.

IV. CONCLUSION

It is understood that the programs, processes, methods and apparatusdescribed herein are not related or limited to any particular type ofcomputer or network apparatus (hardware or software), unless indicatedotherwise. Various types of general purpose or specialized computerapparatus or computing device may be used with or perform operations inaccordance with the teachings described herein.

It is further understood that a hardware embodiment might take a varietyof different forms. A hardware embodiment may be implemented as anintegrated circuit with custom gate arrays or an application specificintegrated circuit (“ASIC”). A hardware embodiment may also beimplemented with discrete hardware components and circuitry. Inparticular, it is understood that the logic structures and method stepsdescribed in the flow diagrams may be implemented in dedicated hardwaresuch as an ASIC, or as program instructions carried out by amicroprocessor or other computing device.

The claims should not be read as limited to the described order ofelements unless stated to that effect. In addition, use of the term“means” in any claim is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6,and any claim without the word “means” is not so intended. Therefore,all embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the followingclaims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.

1. A method for changing the view of market information relating to atradeable object being traded in a market on a screen that displays atleast one market indicator which can move relative to a value axis, themethod comprising: displaying a display region comprising a plurality oflocations on the screen, wherein each location corresponds to one of aplurality of values on the value axis; receiving a command to select aparticular location of the plurality of locations by a user inputdevice; and automatically changing the view of the value axis, inresponse to the selection of the particular location, such that a valueof the particular location selected is moved to a predetermined locationon the screen.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein before the selection theplurality of values on the value axis represent a first view of themarket.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein after the selection anotherplurality of values on the value axis represent a second view of themarket.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first view and the secondview both include the selected value.
 5. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising dynamically displaying at least one market indicator in thedisplay region, wherein the at least one market indicator corresponds toa specific value on the value axis.
 6. The method of claim 5 furthercomprising, in response to the command, moving the at least one marketindicator to a new location in association with the specific value. 7.The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of values on the value axisare displayed.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the values along thevalue axis comprise prices.
 9. The method of claim 1 further comprisingdisplaying two indicators relating to an inside market of the tradeableobject, the at least two indicators each being displayed in one of theplurality of locations of the display region and in association with theplurality of values on the value axis.
 10. The method of claim 9 whereinthe two indicators comprise a best bid indicator representing a highestbid price currently available in the market for the tradeable object anda best ask indicator representing a lowest ask price currently availablein the market for the tradeable object.
 11. The method of claim 9further comprising displaying additional indicators representingadditional market information in the plurality of locations of thedisplay region in association with the plurality of values on the valueaxis.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the value axis comprises astatic value axis.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least onemarket indicator is based on an exchange order book and wherein thevalues on the value axis do not move in response to a price change inthe exchange order book relating to one of the plurality of values onthe value axis, unless a command to change the view of the value axis isreceived.
 14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inresponse to a centering command, changing the view of the value axissuch that an item of interest is displayed to a location approximatelycentered with respect to the the plurality of values on the value axis.15. The method of claim 14 wherein the item of interest comprises aninside market of the tradeable object.
 16. The method of claim 14further comprising displaying a region for receiving a centeringcommand.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the centering commandcomprises a signal from a single action of a user input device.
 18. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the display region is displayed in a window.19. The method of claim 1 wherein the display region comprises a biddisplay region and an ask display region.
 20. The method of claim 19wherein the bid display region comprises a plurality of locations, eachlocation associated with a different one of the plurality of values onthe value axis and the ask display region comprises a plurality oflocations, each location associated with a different one of theplurality of values on the value axis.
 21. The method of claim 20wherein the bid and ask display regions each comprise a column with aplurality of cells and wherein the bid and ask display regions aredisplayed as a grid such that the cells of each column are aligned. 22.The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying an orderentry region comprising a plurality of locations for receiving commandsto send orders, each location corresponding to one of the plurality ofvalues on the value axis.
 23. The method of claim 22 wherein in responseto a selection of a particular location of the order entry region by asingle action of a user input device, setting a plurality of parametersfor an order relating to the tradeable object and sending the order tothe electronic exchange.
 24. The method of claim 22 wherein the orderentry region and the display region overlap.
 25. The method of claim 1wherein the at least one market indicator comprises a dynamicallychanging number.
 26. The method of claim 1 wherein the predeterminedlocation comprises a location approximately centered with respect to theplurality of values on the value axis.
 27. The method of claim 1 whereinthe selection of the particular location is made from a single action ofa user input device.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein the singleaction of the user input device comprises a mouse click.
 29. A method ofdisplaying market information relating to a tradeable object beingtraded on an electronic exchange, the method comprising: displaying adisplay region comprising a plurality of locations, each locationassociated with a value level along a value axis, wherein the displayregion is associated with a first portion of the value axis; displayinga plurality of indicators representing market information in the displayregion, each of the plurality of indicators being displayed inassociation with the portion of the value axis; in response to aselection of a particular location of the display region by a user inputdevice, repositioning the value axis such that the display region isassocated with a second portion of the value axis and the value levelassociated with the selected particular location is displayed at apredetermined location with respect to the second portion of the valueaxis in the display region.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein thepredetermined location comprises a location approximately centered withrespect to the second portion of the value axis.
 31. The method of claim29 wherein the predetermined location comprises a location that is adesignated number of locations from the selected particular location.32. The method of claim 29 wherein the values along the value axisrepresent prices.
 33. The method of claim 29 wherein the value axiscomprises a static value axis.
 34. The method of claim 29 wherein theplurality of indicators comprise at least two indicators relating to aninside market of the tradeable object.
 35. The method of claim 34further comprising the steps of: receiving a centering command; and inresponse to the centering command, repositioning the value axis suchthat the display region is associated with a third portion of the valueaxis and an item of interest is displayed at a location approximatelycentered with respect to the third portion of the value axis.
 36. Themethod of claim 35 wherein the item of interest comprises the insidemarket.
 37. The method of claim 35 further comprising displaying aregion for receiving a centering command.
 38. The method of claim 35wherein the centering command comprises a signal from a single action ofa user input device.
 39. The method of claim 38 wherein the displayregion is displayed in a window.
 40. The method of claim 38 wherein thedisplay region comprises a bid display region and an ask display region.41. The method of claim 40 wherein the bid display region comprises aplurality of locations, each location associated with a different valuelevel along the value axis and the ask display region comprises aplurality of locations, each location associated with a different valuelevel along the value axis.
 42. The method of claim 41 wherein the bidand ask display regions each comprise a column with a plurality of cellsand the bid and ask display regions are displayed as a grid such thatthe cells of each column are aligned.
 43. The method of claim 29 whereinthe plurality of indicators comprises a best bid indicator representinga highest bid price currently available in the market and a best askindicator currently available in the market.
 44. The method of claim 43wherein the step of displaying a plurality of indicators comprisesdisplaying the best bid indicator at a first location associated with afirst value level along the value axis and displaying the best askindicator at a second location associated with a second value levelalong the value axis.
 45. The method of claim 44 wherein the step ofrepositioning comprises displaying the best bid indicator at a thirdlocation associated with the first value level along the value axis anddisplaying the best ask indicator at a fourth location associated withthe second value level along the value axis.
 46. The method of claim 29further comprising displaying an order entry region comprising aplurality of locations for receiving commands to send orders, eachlocation corresponding to a value level along the value axis.
 47. Themethod of claim 46 wherein in response to a selection of a particularlocation of the order entry region by a single action of a user inputdevice, setting a plurality of parameters for an order relating to thetradeable object and sending the order to the electronic exchange. 48.The method of claim 46 wherein the display region and the order entryregion overlap.
 49. The method of claim 29 wherein the selection of aparticular location of the display region comprises a single action of auser input device.
 50. A method for repositioning market informationrelating to a tradeable object being traded in an electronic exchangehaving an inside market with a highest bid price and a lowest ask priceon a screen, the method comprising: dynamically displaying a firstindicator in one of a plurality of locations in a bid display region,each location in the bid display region corresponding to a value levelalong a common value axis, the first indicator representing quantityassociated with at least one order to buy the tradeable object at thehighest bid price currently available in the market; dynamicallydisplaying a second indicator in one of a plurality of locations in anask display region, each location in the ask display regioncorresponding to a value level along the common value axis, the secondindicator representing quantity associated with at least one order tosell the tradeable object at the lowest ask price currently available inthe market; displaying the bid and ask display regions in relation tovalue levels positioned along the common value axis such that when theinside market changes, at least one of the first and second indicatorsmoves in the bid or ask display regions relative to the common valueaxis; receiving a command to select a particular location of a pluralityof locations, wherein each location corresponds to a value level alongthe common value axis; and automatically repositioning the common valueaxis, in response to the selection of the particular location, such thatthe particular location is axially moved to a predetermined position onthe screen and the first and second indicators are moved in associationwith the particular value along the common value axis.